One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. It's the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Ideally, children should have their vaccinations at the right age to protect them as early as possible and minimise the risk of infection.

Vaccination Checklist

Below is a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which you should ideally have them.

2 months:

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib, a bacterial infection that can cause severe pneumonia or meningitis in young children) given as a 5-in-1 single jab known as DTaP/IPV/Hib

Pneumococcal infection

3 months:

5-in-1, second dose (DTaP/IPV/Hib)

Meningitis C

4 months:

5-in-1, third dose (DTaP/IPV/Hib)

Pneumococcal infection, second dose

Meningitis C, second dose

Between 12 and 13 months:

Meningitis C, third dose

Hib, fourth dose (Hib/MenC given as a single jab)

MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), given as a single jab

Pneumococcal infection, third dose

3 years and 4 months, or soon after:

MMR second jab

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio (DtaP/IPV), given as a 4-in-1 pre-school booster

Around 12-13 years:

Cervical cancer (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer (girls only): three jabs given within six months

Around 13-18 years:

Diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster (Td/IPV), given as a single jab

65 and over:

Flu (every year)

Pneumococcal

Vaccines For Risk Groups

People who fall into certain risk groups may be offered extra vaccines. These include vaccinations against diseases such as hepatitis B, tuberculosis (TB), seasonal flu and chickenpox. See the NHS Choices pages on vaccines for adults to find out whether you should have one.